First Time in France- is my budget enough?
 

I'm 23 years old and I'm heading on my first trip to Paris. Actually, my first trip out of the US since I was 10yrs old. I love culture and shopping. I want my vacation to be nice. Not too upscale (maybe one really nice dinner) but not scraping the barrel. My budget right now is about $250 USD per day. We are taking a girls trip and my friend is my age as well. We want to see the typical sights, a few out of the ordinary places, do some shopping and see the city. Is this enough or should I budget more? I feel completely clueless about this portion of the trip planning. Also, how much should I take in cash and how much on credit (I have a prepaid AMEX card) and how much in travelers check? Any help would be amazing.

ADPi

That is perfectly adequate, in fact comfortable, and should make for a very enjoyable visit. That is around 200 euro a day and should be fine as long as you don't stay in a super-expensive hotel, which I assume you won't. The only problem is the shopping thing. I can't advise on that as I don't spend hardly anything on shopping as I don't like to do that activity. This will be completely up to you as to what you want to buy rather than what you spend for the trip. YOu can always spend just a little here and there for souvenirs, a scarf, etc., which is what I do -- but some people blow hundreds of dollars on things.

yes US250 is enough for hotel, food and admissions to sites. Since you are sharing a hotel room(i assume), this budget will be no problem.

That's a generous budget, particularly if you share rooms and stay in 3-star hotels.

As for planning, besides having a passport, buying plane tickets, and reserving hotels, you CAN if you want to wait and plan everything else as you go along.

Definitely have a guidebook with you and read it on the long plane ride over, if nothing else. Some people here at Fodors are hyper-planners but my personal opinion is that it is not necessary for a successful trip.

The best way to obtain funds is using your regular ATM card at a bank machine in Paris. Both U.S. cash or travelers checks would require doing an exchange into euro, which may incur fees and be more of a hassle. Except possibly for your hotel bill, don't plan to spend TC's directly but rather cash them at a bank or exchange bureau. Most people will tell you TC's are a thing of the past between ATMs and credit cards.

Oops maybe I misread your post, I guess you worry over planning was the financial end, not necessarily sight seeing!

Where does a young lady of 23 get this sort of money?

In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties.

Harzer

suze, I agree, it is always amazing to me how people presume to make assumptions about people's income, their spending habits, their priorities, etc.
This traveler could have been saving since she was 16, she could have just inherited some money, she could have gotten a great job after college, or she could have won the lottery. Any of which are no one else's business.

"In my day we managed on the equivalent of around $50 a day, using guidebooks likely Lonely Planet's, or even "Europe on $5 a Day" as its title was back then in the late fifties."

Did you also walk 5 miles every day to school, barefoot in the snow? Get over it.

sheesh.

My thoughts exactly Elaine (the walking to school in a blizzard scenario!). I find posts of the implied superiority of "in my day..." absurd.

If rather than the $250USD figure, the OP had said 100 euro a day for a special girls trip with lots of shopping, sightseeing, and some nice meals and separated her hotel expense of 100 euro/day no one would have blinked an eye.

Maybe she was born rich. Maybe she has a trust fund. Maybe a beloved relative died and left her a bundle. Maybe she has a fabulous profession and works very hard at her job.

Suze, you have a serious problem understanding what I wrote, read again and don't take youself to serious. ;-) Waiting for your apology... :-)

logos, you wrote and i quote
"Spoiled yound women"

When a person is misunderstood, it can be that the receiver didn't understand, or it can be that the sender expressed it badly.

suze and I had the same reaction to
"Spoiled yound women <sic>, spending THIS much money on a single day..."
The disclaimer that followed, which ended with 'go for it', was nice, but
the 'spoiled young woman' was quite clear I think, in its presumption and nastiness.

So I found 2 young women having a lot of money, right? Do you need to apologize for it? ;-) Wait a few years as you grow older you will see things differently ;-) ;-)
LOVE logos.

OK Logos, you win... now you are really making me laugh!!! Since I am not young nor do I have a lot of money.

To bad, I thought yo were just my type...

Why should someone 23 have to be poor? When I was that age I was in my third year of working and making a reasonable salary - not enough for the Crillion - but certainly enough for a 3-star hotel. Why shouldn't I spend my money on travel vs more shoes and clothes.

And for the OP - $250 per day should be fine if you stay at a moderate hotel - but won;t really leave money for a lot of shopping - given how low the dollar is.

And don;t use TC at all. Use your CC whenever possible and pull cash from with your ATM card (checking account only - it won;t work from savings).

>Why should someone 23 have to be poor?
I believe there's a huge cultural difference between people in the US and us folks in Europe. Yes a 23 year old is usually poor and you expect nothing other than this. Either you have started working at an early age and make a living but don't get wealthy or you study for many more years and live on your parents money until you finish your studies. I do believe it is not culturally acepted to display your wealth in this way. If you do nevertheless, people expect you're spoiled and arrogant have no idea of solidarity! You have to accept those diffenences in mentality. They exist and you're the foreigner. Europe has a history of over 150 years of socialism, with all the bad and all the good things.

It's different and it's good that way!

Huh? It would not be unusual for a typical 23 year old professional in any major US city to spend far more than that in a week at home -- one trendy dinner and hitting a couple top clubs in a week will get you there in no time. An average young professional will likely drop $75 a week just at Starbucks for a morning latte and snack. So spending that amount for a week in Paris sure doesn't sound like much to me.

Why is anyone concerned with how much money someone else has or can and want to spend?

But I'm sure confused. Are you saying the $250 per day is for the two of you, or per person?

I find it hard to believe that anyone here would be so rude as to comment at all upon her age in reference to the money she has available to spend. She is asking valid questions, and by some it was taken up as an opportunity to be judgmental and critical.

I thought that adpil question was an ok travel question. Her budget is her own and how she got it. Should I have to explain, I got a part time job to pay for my trip in February and sold a ton of books?

$250 a day for one person is plenty for a rather extravagant vacation (in my view), and $250 for two people is do-able. My husband and I spend about $250-$300 a day, including hotel ($100), food (another $100) and another $100 for museum admissions and a little shopping.

We alternate simple days with more extravagant meals, but we're not the types to drop $100 on dinner unless it's our anniversary, even here in the States.

Leave your money in your checking account, and get cash as needed at one of the bazillion ATMs. Credit cards, prepaid or not, are a waste of money and time. Unless you're paying your hotel bill. Then they're downright handy, but few take AMEX, so I wouldn't bother with anything but VISA/MC.

Happy travels.

Jules

>Why is anyone concerned
I am only saying that this seems to be one major diffference between the people in Europe and the U.S. You don't show others that you have money esp. when you're rather young. If you do, you'll get the appropriate reaction. It would be interesting to start a discussion on this, but this completely off-topic here.

I have to add -- If you've never been to Europe or "feel completely clueless" about your trip planning, I'd suggest buying Rick Steves "Europe Through The Back Door" and read it without skipping a chapter. It will cover travel skills, money, transportation and other issues, as well as give you an outstanding overview of Europe's major sights.

It's available at any bookstore with a travel section.

Happy travels.

Jules

You have a generous budget, about 30 percent less than I as a person twice your age normally spends for two people in one day, barring a heart-stopping shopping moment. So your vacation will be "nice," as you put it, if not very nice.

That prepaid Amex card was a really bad idea, however. And you don't want to take traveler's cheques at all - they're a complete dinosaur. All you need is a debit card linked to your checking account. With that you get the best rates and the easiest access to euros in cash.

Harzer- you sure it was the 50's?
-$50 was really a lot of money when Paris was liberated, what did you spend it all on ??

;-)

Muck

logos, you are way off base with this one. I do agree that there is a cultural difference in europe in regards to the money that young people have. However, the notion that it is somehow not culturally acceptable and an afront to solidarity to spend this daily amount on holiday is totally proposterous.

Americans on this board have been told:

-that they cannot look like americans when they travel to europe
-they cannot speak above a whisper(although it's perfectly fine for italians or others to speak loudly)
-their accent is ugly, shameful and to be concealed
-they cannot watch their sports on holiday (although it is charming for a european to seek to watch his beloved football team while on holiday)
-etc, etc.

Now they are told that it is somehow shameful for american young people have money. they must travel on a shoestring so that they respect the fragile culture of europe and so they are in solidarity with their socialist european cousins. This is total rubbish and americans should be themselves on holiday without being ashamed. Nobody else travels to europe so self-conscious.

I do not favour "flashing money around" and this is clearly not what this thread is about as the OP said "maybe one really nice dinner".

>Did you also walk 5 miles every day to school, barefoot in the snow?<

And it was uphill both ways.

((I))

Hi ad,

$250 pp/day is a very generous budget, even if it includes airfare.

I suggest that you buy about $100 in euros at the departure airport so that you have some cash when you arrive.

Return your AMEX card. You are only paying them to hold your money for you.

The only TCs you will need are several hundred dollars as emergency funds. Buy them in dollars and deposit them in your accoount when you return.

You might want to have two checking accounts, with an ATM card for each one.

Two credit cards, not AMEX, would also be a good idea.

Have a great trip.

((I))

All this time, I've been going off to Europe and trudging past Versailles, the art collection of the Vatican city, (nod to Logos) the Pena and National Palaces in Portugal - all in hopes of seeing, you know, the European predilection for modesty with respect to fiscal displays, as opposed to my flagrant, white-sneaker-wearing display of wealth.....But Logos, must say my white socks were knocked off to hear that the Hapsburgs, amongst others, were socialists.... :)

adpiLdy - most people do want their vacations to be nice, you are not alone there. A blend of typical and out of the ordinary sightseeing does seem to cover all of the bases, as well, as does a blend of culture and shopping, and seeing the city. Hmmn, this ol' trout smells a fishing line. However, in the spirit of the board, I do wish you a good trip. Meanwhile, try to find time to peruse a good guidebook. Without more specific priorities - which only each individual can set for themselves - you will find that whether $25 or $250 a day, nothing will be enough.

$250 a day is a really high budget if you mean that to cover just your daily expenses AFTER you have already paid for your airfare. So I assume you must mean that your total expenses for the whole trip will average out to $250/day INCLUDING your airfare.

adpiLdy- To say whether the amount is sufficient depends on too many things we don't know:

Does this include airfare as some people assume, or is the 200 euro for hotel and daily expenses only?

Will you be sharing a hotel room or each person getting their own? We're assuming a centrally located 3-star, is that what you have in mind? Or something nicer than that?

Will the amount cover any expensive single purchase items when shopping? A nice pocketbook for instance could take up an entire day's budgeted amount.

My summary, obviously that is plenty of money for most of us to see Paris. Whether it is sufficient to cover what you have in mind, it's hard to say.

IMHO. I think it depends on what you want to buy. I saw a few high end items that were well over 200 euro. That Dolce purse is still calling my name, and that purse I wanted at Longchamp was 125 euro. So I guess it depends on what you want to buy and where you want to shop.

I don't find this so unusual that someone wants a nice, comfortable trip for their first time in Europe and has a little money for that, and wants to do some shopping and have a couple nice dinners. This is hardly extravagant if it's only a trip for a week or so (don't think we know). People are making all kinds of value judgments without knowing anything. Who knows, lots of people that age or younger spend tons of money on all kinds of things other than European trips (like cars, CDs, clothes, trips to Cancun, etc).

cmt, that is not a "really high" budget. It's only about 200 euro a day, and lots of folks who stay in a nicer 3* hotel in a central area spend about 75-100 euro a piece for a hotel room (double at 150-200 euro). That leave 100 euro a day for everything else. That's plenty (barring the designer bags, etc, as noted -- people routinely spend hundreds at stores on Fodors I know because they talk about it and the VAT refund), but it's not really high or extravagant.

Actually, that's about my budget to be honest and I don't consider myself extravagant at all, although I am paying for a hotel room on my own, not half a double.

Maybe adpiLdy just wants to make sure she has enough for a nice vacation and isn't sure what Paris costs, and won't spend all that. It's better than being caught short. Lots of people can spend $100-150 a day on vacations in the US, Caribbean, Mexico, etc., and you know a European capital is more expensive.

There are many threads on here about folks sending their teens to Europe and on expensive vacations for weeks or months, and nobody seems to complain about them so much. It's the same amount of money, whether you spend it in 1-2 weeks or over a longer period. I myself would rather have a comfortable, special shorter vacation than longer ones eating on street corners and sleeping in hostels.

Well - in the US success is considered a good thing - not a bad one. And makig a reasonable salary and doing well in your career is also positive. And why shouldn;t young people enjoy themslves? Once you're married and have kids to support you may need to scrimp on things like this - so why not enjoy yourself while you can?

I'm not sure what you mean by people getting the attitude they deserve. If you're implying that Paris Hilton and her ilk her tasteless, tacky, ill-bred and showing off their outrageous wealth - that's true.

But to accuse what seems to be a perfectly average middle class young woman going on a simple vacation of the same behavior seems to be extremely odd.

Is there some reason she should pretend to be poverty-striken? There's no crime in beng poor - but also none in working hard and earning a little money.

And solidarity with what? The US is primarily middle class - so she is showing solidarity - with people who work very hard, earn a litle money and enjoy their lives.

My goodness, it's not like the OP started out by saying that her budget is $2000 per day, not that such a figure should be judged either.
$250 per day with sharing a hotel room is comfortable, but it's hardly millionaire status.

hi ADPi,

hard to say, wether 250 USD or 200 EUR a day are enough. well, maybe you will find yourself at galeries lafayette just to find out, that you could spend much more, bottle of perfume, 50 EUR, nice hermes scarf 250 EUR. your budget, as every budget, depends on your wishes and intentions.

so, you first have to find out, what are your basic needs and how much you have to spend to have them fulfilled.

begin with a rough estimate.

cost of flight / cost of hotel / cost of transportation airport-hotel and hotel-airport

cost of flight
lufthansa economy JFK-CDG between 2150 and 880 USD as I found in the moment on their site. There are other airlines too. Check out with your travel agent.

cost of hotel
hotels 2* double from 40 EUR to 60 EUR /person, hotels 4* double from 200 EUR to 250 EUR /person
who would spend 225 EUR for something he can get for 50 EUR? someone who wants to have his room air conditioned.
remember all the time: you get what you pay for, and you pay for convenience.
the location of your hotel isn´t that much an issue, as metro inside central paris is very efficient and within a circle of max 500m there is a metro station to be found. exception: you are young and want to explore the nightlife and club scene. then you should do further research for the quarters you want to go and the hotels there. Marais is said to be good for this. At marais, I prefer to visit Place des Voges by daylight, the most beautiful place of them all.

For transportation airport-hotel I would use a taxi. very much easier and as you are two, it is not that much more expensive as to go by RER or Metro.

There is much more to budget:
breakfast, lunch and supper

you can have breakfast at your hotel. Maybe you book at a travel agency and it is included. if you have a choice, consider, it will cost at the hotel around 10 EUR. You can get a croissant and a cup of coffee at a baker´s shop for 5 EUR - but you cannot sit down.

You can get french fast food - sandwiches, crepes, or a baguette bread with half a chicken or brie cheese and a bottle of wine which you eat in a park or at a quai of river seine. consider 5 to 10 EUR for this. if you like to eat at mac donald´s, well, a slice of pizza might be cheaper. There are also baker´s shops who sell different kind of sandwiches. there are small restaurants, bistros, offering a formule or a menu - a fixed price meal with starter, main course and dessert for maybe 10 EUR. Fine, if you have tap water Une carafe d´eau with it. If you want to have beer or wine, this would be another 3 EUR, same with a cup of coffee. No refills. Also keep in mind, that the weather would not be fine all the time.
For supper, basically the same, but as it is the main dish in france, consider to pay 15 EUR for a formule or menu. if you want to have more, you can spend more, on menues up to 30 EUR or to orfer from the menu - a la carte - and a bottle of wine with it for another 25 EUR. If you like mussels: A Chain of mussel restaurants "Leon de Bruxelles" offers a plate of mussels with a glass of beer for 10 - 15 EUR. There are also delicatessen and ethnic food stores, offering food for a decent price.

You will have to budget also your expense for the subway - Metro - and the charges for the museums.
For Metro, you can get at any metro station un carnet of 10 tickets, a paris visite card or a carte orange. this subject has bees discussed here thoroughly, as well as the museums, queues, and how to avoid them by a carte musees. for a rough estimate, 4 metro tickets 5 EUR, 2 museums 15 EUR.

so you have covered your basic needs. if your budget gives room for more, you might spend it on culture (quite cheap to get) or shopping (you can leave a fortune there, really, but you don´t have to).

for another shopping experience, look out for the flea markets. The largest one held on saturday and sunday at porte de clignancourt (les puces de st ouen; http://www.les-puces-de-st-ouen.com/).

I notice OP hasn't been back to this thread, perhaps turned off.
But, if you would like to see my long Paris file, email me at
[email protected]

Thank you so much for the advise from all. I guess I have been going a bit overboard on the saving thing. My budget is excluding hotel and plane which I have already taken care of on the side. I have been saving for months because I've been so worried about not having enough. I guess I'm an over-eager traveler!!!!
ADPi

I guess I should have continued reading before I sent my last post. I didn't realize I would start such an energetic conversation. To clear the air. I am recently graduated and I have a *decent* job. The reason I have such a large amount saved for this trip is because I have no bills- I chose to move back home post graduation in order to use my money for as much traveling as I can manage.

So US youth and European youth may not be so different after all?! :)

Hi adpiLdy,
On a recent trip to Paris and Rome, I budgeted between 350-400 euros daily excluding hotel and airfare. I, too, had been saving forever. I never spent that much in a day but kept a running total so that somedays I had way more to spend since I "carried over" the previous day's limit. Bought lots of fun stuff but I'm not too extravagant. Came home with lots of money to spare. Have a wonderful time.

You did such a great job saving that if you decide not to make this trip particularly extravagant, you probably have enough to cover another trip to another (or the same) destination as soon as you're able to take off from work again. It's nice to have a head start on vacation #2 before you've left for #1.